demand



J. DEMAND. WINDSHIE LD CLEANER.

APFLLCATION HLED DEC.13. I921.

Reissued Apr. 11, 1922.

J. DEMAND.

WINDSHIE LD CLEANER. APPLICATION FlLED DEc.I3, 19-21- I Reissued Apr. 11, 1922. 15,331

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' ning, The

'in the accompanying PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH DEMAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Rei ued Apr. 11, 1922 Original No. 1,870,884, dated March 8, 1921, Serial No. 331,860, filed October 20, 1919. Application for reissue filed December 13, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DEMAND, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Bronx, county of Bronx, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windshield Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention rovides automatic means for cleaning win shields of automobiles or other vehicles.

Various manually-operated windshield cleaners are known, but these have the disadvantages that it is difiicult, and at times impossible, for the driver of the car to operate them with safety while the car is run resent invention aims to overcome this disadvantage by providing a device which is operated automatically by means of ener y taken from the power unit of the car, so that when started by the driver it will continueto function and keep the windshield cleansed from rain, mist or spray until the driver puts it out of o eration.

It consists essentially of a w1 er for the glass and power-driven means or reciproeating it, such means being controlled by an operating handle which should be within easy reach of the driver. Preferably the power employed is that of fluid pressure, preferably by suction action which may most conveniently be availed of by a connection with the intake manifold of the engine.

The preferred embodiment is illustrated drawings, wherein,- Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a frontelevation partly in vertical section, in the plane of t e line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on a smaller scale, showing the hood of an automobile and the windshield frame with the cleaner of the present invention attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section corresponding to Fi 3, showing one end of the cylinder, to ilfilstrate a modified valve construction. 7

Referring to the drawings, let A designate the body of the automobile, comprising its hood or bonnet. B is the windshield frame, of any usual construction, mounted on such Serial No. 522,143.

body. C is the sash of the windshield, D D the glass panes thereof, and E in Fig. 1 the usual softrubber packing between the edges of the upper and lower panes. All of these parts are or maybe of the usual or any known construction.

The windshield cleaner comprises a mov} able wiper F of any suitable construction, adapted to move across the face of the glass and free it from moisture or anything tending to cloud or obscure it. This wiper may be of any suitable material adapted to this purpose, and it may be mounted to move or wipe across the glass in any suitable direction. It is-best applied to the outer or front face of the windshield. It is best made in the form of an upright bar, and its direction 'of wiping movement is preferably a rectilinear horizontal movement, whereby it may wipe across theface of the glass from end to end. It may be applied, as shown, to simultaneously wipe the upper and lower panes, or it may be applied to one pane only, or separate wipers may be provided for the respective panes. The precise construction and mounting, and direction of movement of the wiper, are not essential to the invention.

The wiper is moved automatically back and forth by power taken from any suitable source in connection with the power plant of the car. The application of this power is under the control of the driver, who can start itand stop it at will. Preferably, also, he can by adjustmentcontrol the speed of movement.

In the preferred construction shown, the wiper F is mounted to slide along a stationary horizontal guide bar G which constitutes a slidewa This bar G is fastened by any suitable c amping or other means to the upright bars of the windshield frame B. I suitable construction of clamp for this purpose is shown at H in Fig. 2. The wiper is suitably connected to a slide I which moves along the guide bar G. Its movement is imparted to it from a piston J moving in a cylinder K which is fastened in front of the windshield and preferably to the lower member of the sash C, as shown in 1. The connection between the piston and the slide I is best accomplished through the medium of a flexible connector such as a cable cord or wire L which to reduce friction is carried over four pulleys M suitably mount-v sure for operating the piston any convenient position on the dash.

ed in the framework of the cleaner, and

hooded so as to be concealed. he piston J should move freely in the cylinder-K, and may have cupped packingsa, as shown, or be otherwise packed to afford a reasonably fluid-tight joint. The fluid presis best secured by a connection with the intake manifold preferably of the engine. This is shown in Fig. 4, where the engine,.N ,is indicated in dotted lines, its intake manifold being shown in dotted lines at N Tapped into this manifold is a small tubeb which communicates with thecylinder K, a. valvec bein introduced whereby the tube may be close or opened by turning an operating handle d which may be placed in As the piston reaches either end of its stroke it operates some suitable valve mechanism whereby to reverse the fluid current and cause it to move'inthe contrary or backward directlon. Th1s result 1s best secured by a simple tappet valve mechanism, as best pets, so that when struck by end of its movement, the valve g at that end shown inFig. 8. The tube 6 communicates with a transverse pipe e terminating in valve ports 7' at opposite ends of-the cylinder K,

these ports being provided with valves 9 g. Otherports k h are provided opening from the ends of the cylinder to the outer air, and

these are controlled by valves '2' i which may conveniently be mounted on the same stems j asthe valves 9'. These stems serve as tapthe piston at the is closed and the valve i at that end isopened. To perform the contrary operation at the op posite end, any suitable connection is made between these valves at one end with the corresponding valves at the other. motion is shown as. accomplished by means of thereciprocating rod is, which for con venience'is mounted to move through the pipe 6, passing out from the opposite ends thereof through stuffing boxesand bein This conthereconnected by crossheads'll with the 1 stems j j respectively. Thus, when the piston on approaching one end of the cylinder closes the valve 9 at that end, it opens the valve g at the opposite end, and the valves i i are simultaneously operated, the former being opened and the'latter closed.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the wiper F is moving to the right and the piston J is moving to the left. This movement is accomplished by atmospheric pressure entering through port h at the right,

while the reduced. pressure to the left of the pistonis drawn ofl past open valve f through port f andpipe e to the tube 6 which carries the eduction current into the intake manifold, wherein the suction created by the runmug of the engine is availed of to supply the requislte power. On the piston reaching the left-hand end of the cylinder, it strikes the tappet and reverses. the Valves, as already iig. 2 the connecting slide I,these parts are constructed be controlled bv opening this valve more or less. When the weather conditions no longer require wiping the windshield, the operator closes this valve.

In the"construction shown the cable L passes out from the opposite ends of ,the cylinder through stulling boxes m m to prevent leakage. The pulleys M M are enclosed and concealed by means oflhoods a constructed as corner pieces of the windshield cleaner. At the right and left sides the cable L is preferably carried through tubes p which are connected between the upperancl lower hoods '91. At'the top the cable is car ried centrally through the tubular guide bar (r and connected to a sliding block 0 which moves Within this tubular bar and is connected in any suitable manner to the slide I whichmoves upon theexterior of the bar, this connection being formed along the or fingers r r fastened rigidly to the slide I and embracing the block 0 between them. The wires or cables are preferably passed through the'block and twisted together he made through a slot front of the bar. In means is shown as arms yond the ends of the block, and to further securely connect the block to the cables a setscrew 8 is provided which screws into the lock and clamps against the wires. To am able the wiper F to be disconnected from the the one with a projection and the other with a socket, and a pin t isprovided which normally connects them and which may be removed when it is desired to take oil the wiper. I

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which fluid pressure insteadof suction is used to propel the motor. This construction is readily applicable to trolley cars and other vehicles having pneumatic brakes, as the air pressure 'for the purposemay be taken from the brake reservoir. The valve construction amounts, to a simple reversalof the functions of the valves 9 2' shown-in Fig. 3. The

compressed air conduit 6 leads to a cross an inlet chamber u from which, when valve open, the air passes through port it into the opposite end of the cylinder where valve g is open, the air exhausts through port f.

, the cylinder to propel the piston, while at The tappet action isthe same as before dc.-

scribed. 1

Fig. 5 also shows a. modified arrangement of the connection between the valves at opposite ends of the cylinder. Instead of said cylinder,

using a separate rod is outside of the cylin der, the one valve rod is is carried directly through the cylinder from end to end, so that it passes through the piston as shown. To prevent any material leakage of fluid through the piston along this valve rod, it may pass freely through one or more stuffing boxes '0 constructed in the piston.

It must not be inferred from the particu larity with which I have shown and de scribed the preferred construction, that my invention is limited to the details thereof. On the contrary, the invention is susceptible to a considerable range of variation, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The construction may therefore be modified to any desired extent within the scope of the apgended claims.

bviously the invention is applicable not only to motor cars, but to any moving vehicle having a windshield. such, for example, as flying machines or dirigibles. The term automobile is used to include any self-propelled vehicle.

I claim as my invention:

1. A windshield cleaner for automobiles, comprising a reciprocating wiper, a guide therefor extendin parallel with the length of the windshield, a cylinder, said guide and cylinder mounted as a unit on the windshield, a piston in said cylinder, a flexible connector communicating movement from said piston to the wiper, the cylinder having stuffing boxes closing its ends through which said connector passes, and pulleys over which said connector is carried in its passage from the cylinder to the wiper.

2. A windshield cleaner comprising a rectangular frame'adapted to be attached to the windshield, one horizontal element of said frame constituting a guide, a wiper for the windshield engaging said guide, .another horizontal element of the frame comprising a cylinder havin end stuffing boxes, pulleys mounted on sai frame, a piston in sai cylinder, and a flexible connector attached to said piston, passing out through said stuffing boxes, carried over said pulleys, and connected to said wiper.

3. A windshield cleaner comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be attached to the windshield, one horizontal element of said frame constituting a guide, a wiper for the windshield engaging said guide, another horizontal element of theframe comprising a cylinder having end stuffing boxes, pulleys in the'corners of the frame, a piston in and a flexible connector communicating movement from said piston to said wiper and carried over said pulleys.

4. A windshield cleaner according to claim 3, the corners of the frame formed with housings for said pulleys, which housings connect the horizontal and upright elements of 96 the rame.

5. A windshield cleaner according to claim- 3, the frame formed 0f horizontal and up right tubular members arranged in the plane of the connector, and housings for said pul leys, the-latter arranged in the same plane, and the cable being carried through said tubular members, whereby it is wholly inclosed.

6. A windshield cleaner for. automobiles, comprising a reciprocating wiper, a guide therefor extending parallel with the length of the windshield, a cylinder. said guide and cylinder mounted as a unit on the windshield, a piston in said cylinder, and a flexible con nector communicating movement from said piston to the wiper. the cylinder having stufling boxes closing its ends through which said connector passes.

7. An automatic cleaner for an automobile windshield, comprising a wiper to extend along one surface of said windshield, in :1. direction substantially parallel-with one of its edges, and a fluidmotor capable of automatically reciprocating said wiper across said windshield between said edge and the opposite ed c, said motor comprising a cylinder adapte to be mounted along one of the edges of said windshield, a piston therein, a flexible connector to transmit motion from said piston to said wiper, stuffing boxes closin the chambers in the opposite ends of said cylinder and forming packed outlets for said connector, and guiding means to dlrect said wiper in its movements along the surface of the windshield, the various parts of said cleaner being united in a compact structure adapted to be confined substantially within the length and breadth of the windshield to which it is to be applied.

8. An automatic cleaner for an automobile Windshield comprising a cylinder and a guideway relatively disposed in parallel relation and adapted to be mounted length wise of said windshield, said cylinder and guideway being substantially coextensive in length, awiper adapted to extend crosswise along one surface of said windshield and movable in opposite directions along said guideway and substantially from end to end thereof, a piston in said cylinder, a flexible connector for transmitting motion from said piston to said wiper, stufling boxes closing the chambers in opposite ends of said cylinder and forming packed outlets for said connector, and means for automatically reciproeating said piston and connected wiper, the various parts of said cleaner and its reciprocating means being ,united in a compact structure adapted to be confined substantially within the margins of said windshield.

9. A power driven windshield. cleaner comprising a cylinder and a guideway disposed in parallel relation and substantially coextensive in length, a Wiper movable in opposite directions alongsaid guideway, a piston in said cylinder, a flexible connector for transmitting motion from said piston to said wiper. stuffingboxesclosing the chambers in opposite ends of" said cylinder. and

forming packed outlets for said connector, and means including valved connections for automatically reciprocating said piston and connected wiper, said-cleaner being attachable as a unit toa windshield. I l i 10. 'A power driven windshieldrle'ane compris ng a cylinder and a gindeway disposed infperall'el relation and substantially coextensive in length, a wiper movable ,in'

opposite directions along said .guidewayll r.

piston in said cylinder, at flexibleconnector for transmitting rnotion from said piston" to said Wiper, stufling'hoxes'clofsing the chem.- bers in oppositeends of seidcylinder and forming packed outlets for said connector, means including-valved connections for reciprocating said piston and connected wiper; and means' caused to'be ope'rated when said Wiper reaches the end of'its stroke in either direction for reversing said valved connecattachable as a unitto a windshield.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed 'lnyname. a

, Os P DEMA D.

25 tlons and thereby reversing thedirection of 'IHOVBIHBIH} of said'ipiston, said cleaner being 

